According to recent reports, Shenzhen-based 01 Life Technology, specializing in the field of human microbiome, has successfully completed a Series B1 funding round worth 100 million yuan. This marks the sixth round of financing since the company's establishment in 2016. The raised funds will primarily be used for upgrading the core technology platform, clinical applications of proprietary drugs, and market promotion of commercial products.
The human body harbors over a trillion symbiotic microorganisms, collectively forming the human microbiome ecosystem, which includes five subsystems: skin, oral cavity, reproductive tract, gastrointestinal tract, and respiratory system. These microorganisms play a crucial role in human health and disease and are often referred to as the "second genome" of the human body. Among them, the gut microbiota represents the largest and most complex microbial ecosystem within the human body.
01 Life Technology focuses on the field of human microbiome and has developed a data-driven microbial resource development and application platform, consisting of the "Three Databases and Three Platforms." This system encompasses core technologies such as human microbiota gene detection, big data analysis, high-throughput strain screening, multi-omics strain cultivation, strain genome analysis, strain metabolome analysis, strain process development, pharmacological evaluation of metabolites, animal model development and application, among others.
Through the accumulation of extensive data and high-throughput screening and analysis, the company has amassed a database of over 25 million cases of human multi-omics data. It also possesses the largest collection of microbial strains associated with conditions such as dermatological diseases, obesity, and diabetes in China, as well as the only library of small-molecule compounds derived from human microbiota in the country. This provides a foundation for future product application and transformation.
The company's application transformation primarily focuses on two directions. The first is microbial pharmaceuticals, which involve the development of drug formulations using normal microorganisms or regulating microorganisms to promote their normal growth. The second direction is health consumption, which involves collaboration with external health consumer product companies to conduct extensive sample testing and analysis, and select new strains suitable for the Chinese population as raw materials.
Leveraging the "Three Databases and Three Platforms," 01 Life Technology has already launched seven original drug pipelines, five genetic testing products, and six probiotic+ products. In recent years, the company has collaborated with nearly 30 domestic and international hospitals to conduct over thirty clinical trials centered around human microbiome.
In the pharmaceutical sector, based on the existing data accumulation, the company plans to establish pipelines for the treatment of skin diseases, diabetes, metabolic disorders, mental disorders, and oral diseases. Currently, it has taken the lead in entering the field of atopic dermatitis and is jointly developing it with one of the top two dermatology medical institutions in China, with plans to submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application. Furthermore, the pipeline layout covers various technological pathways, including small-molecule metabolites, live microorganisms, and engineered strains, to ensure compliance with regulatory policies and strategic reserves for the future.
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